Cool Stuff Coming!
Over the next few
months, you're going to get the chance to play with a number of
toys that we've been working on for quite a while. You may have
already noticed our RSS 1.0 Feeds have gone live, and expanded RSS
2.0 and other XML functionality is a few days away.
These features are particularly valuable to those of you who
have come to depend on ANN's Real-Time News
Delivery... especially if you have a full-time data
connection to depend on.
In addition to the slick RSS and XML feeds (and a few things
we'll be talking about shortly... REALLY cool stuff, we promise),
we're about ready to release the first public build of ANN's
long-awaited Aero-NewsBug... a way to find out RIGHT NOW
when Aero-News is breaking.
For those of you using a Windows 2K/XP PC (MAC version in
the works... we promise), this new REALTIME News Service from
the Aviation World’s DAILY News Service, the Aero-News
Network (ANN), will let you know when our REALTIME, award-winning
NewsFeed has been updated -- LIVE. RIGHT NOW. NO KIDDING.
Since we update our
REALTIME newsfeed dozens of times a day, this is expected to be a
VERY useful utility.
With just a few days left before public release, we're
prepared to let a few folks take a look at the last beta, in
case someone can find a way to break it that we haven't seen yet
(and if Campbell can't break it, we think we may be on the right
track). That done, we'll release the public version when
our Super Web-Geek, Birgit, returns from a much-needed
vacation.
If you want to be one of the first to play with the latest beta,
click the email link here,
or below, and we'll mail the 700K beta file to
you in .zip format. Keep in mind that this is still a beta
version... there is NO support or instruction manual for it right
now... and we're only willing to disseminate this version in
order to seek comments, suggestions, bug reports and the like. It
un-installs readily so if you do wind up with issues, you can nuke
it at will. PLEASE do let us know what you think and if you wind up
with any major problems.
The “First
Look” version we’re showing comes as a simple
ZIP file with an equally simple self-installation protocol (click
on file, do what it says, and no one gets hurt... grin). If you
have any problems, let us know and we’ll email a detailed
installation protocol when we approve it.
When installed, you'll see a small blue and white airplane icon
on the lower right hand side of your windows installation, in the
system tray. If the airplane icon isn't doing anything, you're
up to date on news. BUT... when the airplane starts moving, (or
making sounds that you can select from the control panel), all you
have to do is click on it once to see for the NewsBug window to
open to display either the newest headlines OR (depending on what
you select in the user preferences) headlines and short
summaries of the latest news. Click on any of the stories and
you'll instantly open a separate window to the story that you just
selected.
Simple. Unobtrusive. Cool. Efficient.
Get Your Own Branded Aero-NewsBug
In addition to the standard public version of the Aero-NewsBug,
custom “Branded” versions will be available for major
aviation associations, companies and organizations wishing for a
distinctive news product for their members, customers and
associates. These versions will feature Custom
Logos reflecting the affiliated organization. With
additional future functionality ALREADY built-in, this offering is
due to be available with the first publicly disseminated generation
of the Aero-NewsBug.
Some of the additional features we are preparing will allow for
extensive customization and specialized news and information
requests… in REALTIME. In other words… more cool
things coming… SOON. You are NOT going to believe what
else we have up our sleeves for the near future... especially come
Oshkosh-time. We promise to blow your minds...